Pastor looks to be a serious contender to replace Ray LaHood as US transportation secretary. One Democratic operative said word is spreading that Pastor has had three sit-down interviews regarding the job.

Daniel Patterson piped up on Twitter today, saying that if Saldate is appointed to the federal Dept of the Interior and resigns from the House, he wants to return to the Legislature. Patterson told our reporter he plans to run for the appointment if the seat opens up in LD3.

Biggs yesterday told our reporter that he would like to see lawmakers explore the possibility of keeping the current AHCCCS enrollment freeze or, at most, simply restore the Prop 204 population to capture the normal federal match of 2-to-1.

Americans for Prosperity yesterday sent an email to supporters calling on them to contact the four GOP senators who “failed to do the right thing” when they voted against anti-union legislation last week and urge them to support such legislation in the future.

Some in Arizona have often wondered whether the “real” Brewer is showing – less ideologue, pragmatic, conservative and compassionate – now that she is potentially staring at the end of her political career.

Most of the Republicans eyeing the 2014 governor’s race have been well known as potential candidates for a while, but at least one has flown completely under the radar until now, former GoDaddy general counsel and executive vice president Christine N. Jones.

Farnsworth took offense in House pub-mil-reg yesterday when a lobbyist for the Arizona Judges Association suggested that H2600 (judicial nominees, minimum requirements; records) would spawn a lawsuit because it is unconstitutional.